There was a genuinely youthful vibe at Chris Leba’s Spring 2019 show for R13 this afternoon. It wasn’t only because he had young family members in the audience, including his little girl Bella, whom he lifted up into his arms as he took his bow, but because the designer did something he doesn’t always do—he got personal. This season, Leba began his collection by looking back at his own childhood and teenage years, growing up surfing and bumming around the seaside hotel that his mom owned in Montauk, New York. (This, he was quick to point out, was long before the boutique hotels and acai-bowl joints got built up and the millionaires began to flock there during the summer.) Those were carefree days, he said postshow, days when you had nothing to worry about but sun and sand and maybe getting into a little trouble once the sun went down.

Leba put himself into the clothes this time around more than he’s ever done before at R13, and because of this, the lineup was really able to shine. His use of rainbow tie-dye on blazers, tees, and jeans was awesome, especially considering this is a brand that has always prided itself on its grunge-era black, white, ripped denim, and flannel uniform. The Baja prints were a fun touch too, though a bit literal at times (see the beaded drug rug in Rasta colors). As always, there was great denim in various washes and cuts, but the real winners here were the pieces that Leba put his heart, soul, and ex-surfer-kid vibes into.